The poor husband covered his face with his hands and groaned aloud. This seems to encourage his wife to go on; for she uttered words more and more bitter until, at last, almost in a state of frenzy, the wretched man rushed from the house, to the nearest public house, and there sought to bury thoughts of the past and future.

ance.

In the meantime James Hawley, his companion in labour, entered his home with a very sad countenBut before he had stepped over the threshold, a loving pair of arms were thrown around his neck, and a pair of sweet lips pressed to his.

He returned the salutation sadly, and then inquired for the baby.

She is sleeping sweetly in her cradle. She has been a perfect little darling to-day. Supper is waiting; so make haste. Here is warm water and towels. Are you not later than usual to-night?

"Bad news!" she exclaimed, turning pale, as, for the first time, she noticed that something was wrong.

"Yes, I was discharged to-night, and do not know that I can get anything more to do until spring. Business is so dull."

"Is that all?" exclaimed his wife, with a sigh of relief. "I thought it was something terrible, the way you looked."

"And is it not terrible enough? What will become of us this winter, if I am out of employment !"

"The same God who feeds the sparrows and clothes the lily of the field, will not let us suffer, dear James."

"God bless you, Mary! There is sweet comfort in your words."

"And now, let us have supper!" exclaimed his wife, cheerfully.

Observer, June 1, '75.

"See, I have your favourite dish. Do not let your troubles impair your appetite; and then, after tea, we will talk it all over. God doeth everything for the best! And as our days so shall our strength be !'"

In the evening it was determined that the quarter's rent should be paid immediately, a new supply of coal obtained, and the remaining portion of the money placed in the wife's hands, to be dealt out as sparingly as possibly. Then Mary suggested that all her pretty parlour furniture should be stowed away in the garret, and the front room let out. Further than this they could lay no plans, and as the husband went out to pay the rent, the future looked so dark to the young wife that she could not altogether restrain her tears; but seeking strength from on high, her face wore the same cheerful smile when her husband returned; and little did he know that during all the long night, while he and his babe were sleeping, his wife lay awake planning out the future.

Three months have passed, with scarcely a day's work in all that time, and now another quarter's rent is due, in vain the labourer thrusts his hands down into his empty pockets, and in vain racks his brain for some solution of the problem how that rent is to be paid. The lodger had paid his money monthly; but then that was not enough to meet the sum, if he had it, and of course his wife had spent that as fast as she received, as it was an every-day wonder to James how Mary managed so well.

With feelings of deep despair he entered the house. The table was spread. As James took it all in at a glance, he greatly wondered at the frugal yet comfortable way of

Observer, June 1, '75.

living. How his wife had been able to make the small amount of money last so long was a mystery to him.

He refused to sit up to the table, pleading that he had no appetite. And great large tears arose in the strong man's eyes as he informed his wife that on the morrow they would be turned from their home, to go he knew not whither, as he had not a dollar in his pocket to secure them even a room elsewhere. "Is that it," exclaimed his wife, in soft, rippling tones; and tripping up stairs, she soon returned and placed £5 in his hand.

"Where did you get it?" he exclaimed, eagerly turning it over in his hands.

"I earned it," replied his wife, gaily.

"And kept it all a secret from me?"

"Yes, because I thought you would be worrying for fear that I was doing too much. I love to knit dearly, and consider it more of a pleasant pastime than labour." "God be praised for giving me such a woman!" exclaimed her husband, earnestly; and pressing his wife and child closely to his bosom, he said:

"Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and ters have done virtuously; but thou he praiseth her; for many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all."

Twenty years have passed, and James Hawley is a rich man. But Joseph Smith is a confirmed drunkard, while his wife has long since passed from the earth, a victim of misery and want.

when the tide is out, and you form characters, or write words or names in the smooth white sand which lies spread out so clear and beautiful at your feet, according as your fancy may dictate, but the running tide shall, in a few hours, wash out and efface for ever all that you have written. Not so the lines and characters of truth or error which your conduct imprints on the mind of your child. There you write impressions for the eternal good or ill of your child, which neither the floods nor storms of earth can wash out, nor death's cold finger erase, nor the slow moving ages of eternity obliterate. How careful, then, should each mother be of herself in the treatment of her child. How prayerful, how serious, and how earnest to write the truths of God on his

Twenty-two have been immersed and added to the church. There are more to be immersed, and in consequence of the success and the numbers attending the meetings, the brethren have decided to continue the effort for another entire week, during which time our Bro. Pittman will remain. The above was written for insertion last month, but too late for insertion. During the second week of our "mission' or special services in April, we had the pleasure of hearing ten other persons confess the Lord Jesus, and were afterwards immersed into His name; the total number added during the two weeks being thirty-two.

W. BALMFIRTH.

WORTLEY.-An outline of the late special movement in connection with the church at Wortley (near Leeds), will, no doubt, be acceptable and encouraging to the brethren generally. To us who were called to aid in the work everything appeared favourable to success. We met the brethren on Saturday evening, April 10th, to pray and plan for the services. We were rejoiced to see them ready and eager for an opportunity to serve the Master in any way within their powers. Their prayers indicated an intense desire for the salvation of sinners; the genuine character of which was fully demonstrated in the zeal with which the work was carried on, and in the fact that many put off important business matters in order that they might give as much time as possible to the cause. Another circumstance which gave promise of success was the large number of young men and women in connection with the Lord's day school still outside the church. Much labour had been bestowed in sow

ing the seed of Divine truth in their young minds, and now, it appeared to us, the time had come to reap the harvest, and so it transpired, for by far the greater number of those brought in were of this class. Twenty services were held during the fortnight, with an average attendance of about 200. Two short addresses were generally given at each meeting, clear, heart-searching and to the point. Our dear Bro. Ferguson of Manchester, came to our aid on Saturday, April 10th, and stayed over Monday, and again on the following Saturday, to assist in the work of Lord's day. His earnest, loving appeal to the unconverted will be long remembered by many. Our after service was mostly a baptismal service. It was on witnessing this solemn ordinance that some were brought to decision.

Observer, June 1, '75.

One young woman had stifled conviction for some days, but on witnessing the immersion of five persons conviction gained the mastery, and she was immersed the next day with her brother. One other sight made some of us weep for joy-it was the baptism of an old man, whose wife and children were all in the church. His two sons have long been active and useful members of the church. The visitation of the anxious during the day was the means of the decision of others. The parents of some of the younger candidates, through ignorance of the truth, objected to their being baptized. By visiting them these objections were removed, and an impression of the right kind was sometimes made, which may produce its own results hereafter. During the fortnight thirtyone persons were immersed into Christ. Two others decided and have since been immersed. In two respects this special movement has been a great blessing to the church; not only has it largely added to its number, but it has also revived the brethren in the Divine life and imbued them with renewed energy. Some of the elder brethren expressed this over and over again. Would it not be well for churches generally to occasionally have a week of special services, after the above type, we are fully convinced of the good of such efforts, if not too often repeated in connection with the same church.

J. PITTMAN.

WHITEHAVEN.-Following a visit of some length from Bro. D. Scott, the church in Whitehaven had a series of discourses by Bro. D. King, extending over four Lord's days, and resulting in the immersion of four persons, who are added to the church. Others it is hoped are favourably moved to consider their position. Two of the immersed were young men, twins; so that as they entered this world together so, in comp any, they entered into the kingdom of God's dear Son. The meetings were well attended, considering that during the whole time there were revival meetings nightly, by the sects in union, with much house to house effort to secure the people. Bro. King gave two addresses at Parton to attentive audiences, and also one in Aspatria, at the close of which an intelligent hearer, who had previously been helped by instruction declared his intention to put on Christ. Since then his wife has concluded to be buried by baptism, at the same time. On the road home Bro. King held three full and